Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund Awards $85,000 to Six Canadian Doc Projects

Hot Docs is pleased to announce that six Canadian documentary projects will receive $85,000 CAD in funding from the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund. Of the selected projects, two are from Ontario, two are from Quebec, and two are from British Columbia. Established in June 2016 with a gift from the Rogers Foundation, the $1-million fund provides financial support to Canadian documentary filmmakers. To date, the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund has distributed $595,000 CAD to 42 documentary projects.

"The 2022 round of the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund is a testament to the diversity and talent within the Canadian documentary community," said Heidi Tao Yang, Hot Docs Director of Funds & Labs. "These films represent a wonderful balance of filmmaking styles, stories, and regional perspectives, ranging from urgent reportage to vibrant character studies to creative, contemplative cinematic experiences. We're proud to support another outstanding cohort that add to our growing roster of talented alumni."

Eligible projects were considered by the selection committee, which included Tasha Hubbard (Filmmaker, Downstream Documentary Productions Inc.), Liz Marshall (Filmmaker, LizMars Productions Inc.), Hot Docs (Julian Carrington, Distribution Manager & Industry Funds Programmer).

LUNATIC

Director: Kate Kroll

Producers: Kate Kroll, Pasha Patriki, Michael Paszt

Production companies: Black Moon Media & Hangar 18 Media

She scared little boys and inspired a generation of women. Lunatic profiles the complex life and tragic death of famed women's WWE wrestler, Luna Vachon while shining a light on mental health and addiction in the sports industry.

MANUFACTURING THE THREAT

Director: Amy Miller

Producer: Amy Miller

Production company: Wide Open Exposure Productions

Welcome to an upside-down world where the masters of manipulation and the experts of entrapment make and break our laws.

PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF

Director: Asher Penn

Producers: Asher Penn, Betsy Carson, Mark Achbar, Megan Robinson

Production company: PHT Productions Inc.

Renowned addiction expert and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté reflects on his life and work in this intimate portrait, revealing the internal conflicts and turbulent personal history that have influenced his evolution from childhood to the present.

RUSSIANS AT WAR

Director: Anastasia (Last name withheld)

Producer: Cornelia Principe

Production companies: Raja Pictures Inc.

Since February 24, when Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine and the world awoke to a very different reality, Anastasia has quietly and unassumingly been on the ground in Russia taking her camera and risking her safety to document what she encounters.

THE SANDBOX

Director: Kenya-Jade Pinto

Producers: Shasha Nakhai, Kenya-Jade Pinto

Production company: Compy Films Inc.

Logline withheld.

URBAN CHRONICLES

Director: Nadine Gomez

Producer: Dominique Dussault

Production companies: Nemesis Films Productions

Urban Chronicles is a sensory dive into the heart of contemporary cities. It explores, in a unique collaborative approach with city dwellers, what characterizes our lives in a 21st century metropolis and our ability to live in them together.